Johnny Gaudreau’s sister Katie announces birth of son, names him after late brother

The sister of hockey players Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who were killed by a drunk driver in 2024, announced the birth of her son — and decided to honor her brother through the newborn’s name.

Matthew Guy Joyce, the couple’s first child, was born on Saturday, Katie Gaudreau-Joyce announced in a heartfelt post on Instagram.

“The moment our hearts grew bigger than we ever imagined. Welcome to the world, sweet boy,” Gaudreau-Joyce wrote.

Matthew Guy Joyce was born on Saturday, Katie Gaudreau-Joyce announced in a heartfelt post on Instagram. Katie Gaudreau/Instagram

Gaudreau-Joyce married Devin Joyce in July 2025, 11 months after their wedding was originally canceled following the sudden deaths of her two brothers the day before.

Johnny, a 31-year-old NHL star, and his brother Matthew, a 29-year-old former pro-hockey player, were killed in a drunk driving crash while biking from Katie’s wedding rehearsal dinner in New Jersey in August 2024.

The siblings — both married dads — were single-file on the shoulder of a road in Oldsmans Township when driver Sean Higgins allegedly drunkenly mowed them down.

Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were killed in a drunk driving crash while biking from Katie’s wedding rehearsal dinner in New Jersey in August 2024. Instagram / @kgaudreau13

Another car slowed down to safely pass the two cyclists, but Higgins decided to go around that car and hit the brothers in the process. He pulled over a quarter-mile down the road, where cops found him.

Higgins — who’s previously rejected a 35-year-sentence plea deal — has pleaded not guilty to reckless vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter, and related charges.

A judge denied his bid to have his case tossed over an allegedly botched blood-alcohol test.

He faces up to 70 years in prison if convicted on all counts.